Messages from April 2008

posted 4.30.08

We have several members who are out of competition for an extended period of time.  I apologize if I leave anyone out.

Clay Bonner - had surgery this week to remove a non-functioning kidney.  Clay is expected to be back home Thursday night and is hoping to be ready for competition in June.

Coldar Cluck - broke his ankle in the practice pen and is having surgery on Friday.  Coldar is expected to be out most of the summer.

Dane Harbour - broke a small bone in his ankle.  Dane is hoping to be back for competion at the Tri-State Finals.

Robert Douglas - recovering from his hang-up in the bareback riding at Plainview.  He also had the staples he earned at Childress removed from his head.

Brian Jones - recovering from his hang-up in the bareback riding at Plainview.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for all of these contestants.

posted 4.29.08

I have updated the Ineligible list for Tri-State members to reflect missing report cards.  Make sure your name is not on this list or you will not compete this weekend at Vernon.

The Wrangler Division points have been posted on the results page.

The deadline to submit an article for the position of Ariat Regional Reporter is this Thursday - May 1st.

Ballots for Tri-State adult directors are due this Saturday.  The ballot box will be out on Saturday ONLY.  If you mail your ballot to the office, I have to receive it no later than Friday.

posted 4.28.08

I am  back in the office this morning.  I really enjoyed my trip to Lufkin.  It is such a great rodeo.  But as much as I think I need a break from all of you guys, it doesn't take me long to start missing you.

The fuel prices are starting to affect our entries.  I have heard from a few members that won't be at Vernon this weekend and that is creating openings in the team roping for some ropers still looking to pull in some points at the last three rodeos.  I will have all of the envelopes sorted later today, so give me a call tonight if you are looking to form a new team for this weekend.  There are no late penalties as long as you are already entered in other events.

I will work on points this afternoon, also, and get those posted by tonight.

I can't believe it is almost May.  We are only five weeks away from the Tri-State finals and there is still so much to do so I better get back to work!

** Tri-State and Region 1 points have been posted.  I will get the Wrangler Division up on Tuesday.

posted 4.21.08

Hey, Plainview Club, you guys did an awesome job of running things this weekend.  I have no complaints.  (And if you haven't figured it out yet, it's all about me and what I think.  Ha Ha!)  Seriously, though, I was very pleased with how well each day went.  Thanks to everyone for their help with the high school rodeo on Saturday and the two Wrangler rodeos on Sunday.  It was a great weekend.

Thanks to Debbie McLaughlin for baking a cake to raffle to make up the lost 50/50 drawing at the previous rodeo.  Ticket sales brought in $30 for the scholarship account.  I didn't hear who one, but the cake was claimed on Saturday.

The 50/50 ticket went unclaimed that afternoon.  It was a blue ticket #367441.  The total jackpot came to $253.  The winner has until the start of the PM performance at Vernon (Saturday rodeo) to claim their share of the prize, or the money will roll into the next drawing.

I have posted the official scores and results.  Points are going to have to wait.  I just don't have time to get them done before I leave this morning.  For Region 1 and Wrangler final standings, you can follow the links to the state websites.  Those pages update automatically when I send results to the internet.  I will get Tri-State points up first thing next week when I get back.

Congratulations to all of the State Finalists!  Region 1 is sending 68 contestants to Abilene and the Wrangler Division is sending 32 to Gonzales.  I know you will all represent us well at State - and hopefully Nationals.

If you didn't put your Vernon entries in the box at Plainview, you have until this Saturday (April 26th) to get them to my mailbox to avoid late fines.  Remember:  each day is a separate rodeo so you will need separate envelopes.  I'm not certain, but I think I heard an announcement of a team roping fundraiser Saturday night at Vernon.  They have had some in past years, so it would be safe to assume the announcement and just make plans come and rope and help out the Vernon Rodeo Club.  Call Gary Don Harkey if you need more concrete information.  His number is listed on the Clubs page.

That's all I have time for right now.  I will be out of town all week but I will be checking phone messages and e-mails.  I will be back in the office next Monday (April 28th.)  Have a great week!

posted 4.17.08

QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK

GRADES:  Yes, you have to turn in grades this weekend.  It can be a progress report, your latest six weeks report, or the grade request form.  I just need something that shows your grades since you turned in your semester report card.

DIRECTIONS:  I have never been to the arena in Plainview.  All I have is the directions posted in the link on the FAQs page.  I plan on leaving a little bit early to make sure I'm not late.

STALLS:  All I know is what has been posted in the link on the FAQs page.

posted 4.15.08

Region 1 and Wrangler members:  please look at your state packets before you come to Plainview.  There is a reason I give them to you early.  The entry form needs to be notarized and both parents' signatures are required in more than one place.  If both parents aren't going to be in Plainview, then you definitely need to get their signatures early.  We will fill in the final standings in your events once the rodeos are completed.  Call if you have any questions.

posted 4.14.08

Wrangler members:  please check your entries on the WD News page.

posted 4.13.08

Thanks to the Childress Rodeo Club for hosting our rodeo on Saturday.  Even with just a handful of members, they still managed to run off the entire rodeo in almost record time.  Thanks for all your hard work!

Official scores and results have been posted.  Your entry fees will be deposited and payoff checks will be mailed in the morning.  Points will be updated by tomorrow at the latest.

There was some confusion last weekend about the 50/50 tickets since the Childress Club and Tri-State were both selling tickets.  I decided to hold off on the Tri-State drawing until the Plainview rodeo.  So if you bought BLUE 50/50 tickets, hold on to them for another week.  We will have the drawing next Saturday.

There will be a lot going on this weekend at Plainview:

I will add to the list as I think of more reminders throughout the week.

I have already heard from a few families that won't be making the trek to Gonzales.  We want to fill those positions if we can.  Just because you aren't in the Top 8 in the Wrangler Division doesn't mean you don't have a chance of going to the Finals.  Don't leave Plainview until we know for sure all of the positions are filled in your events.

Same story for the high school division.  I haven't heard of anyone not planning on going to Abilene, but it could still happen.  If you are close to the Top 10, please check with me before you leave Plainview. 

I have to have all of the forms turned in at Plainview in the mail to the State Office on Monday April 21st.  Late entries are not an option.   I am also leaving town on that Monday for a rodeo in Lufkin and won't be back in the office until Monday April 28th.  The plan is to have everything correct before I leave so I don't have to worry about things while I am gone.

posted 4.11.08

REGION 1 ARIAT REPORTER

If you are interested in being the Ariat Reporter for Region 1 next year, please let me know ASAP.  The deadline for article submissions is May 1st.  The first article for the new reporter will be the July issue of the Extreme Team News.  If you have any questions about what the "job" entails, visit with Haley Garrison or Chelsea Sanders.  They can probably fill you in on meeting the newspaper deadlines and how to come up with ideas for articles.  Each region reporter receives a $500 scholarship from Ariat for their year of service. 

posted 4.10.08

I received information today on two upcoming events:

April 24th ~ Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame presents "An Evenin' with J J Hampton," ~ 17-time World Champion

May 10th ~ 4th Annual Jordan Freeman Memorial 4-D Barrel Race.  Jordan's dad, Todd, is a Tri-State Alumni and proceeds benefit the rodeo scholarship fund at Tarleton State University (my favorite school.)  It is scheduled the same date as our last rodeo, so if you can't attend, please spread the word so others will hear about it.

                    Mikey

posted 4.8.08

We have a winner!  Terri Sursa of Hereford has claimed the 50/50 jackpot from Saturday's drawing.  She will share the $349 with the scholarship account.  Congratulations Terri!  We will start a new drawing at Childress this weekend.

I will be sending out ballots for the membership to vote for adult directors to fill the 4 positions that will be coming open this year.  Here are the nominees in alphabetical order:  Charles Christian, Phillip Graf, Whitney Oxley, Jim Richardson, Jim Riemer, Kirk Sparkman, Carr Vincent and Tom White.  Positions on the board are two year terms (unless shortened due to graduation.)

The five directors that remain on the board for another year are Gary Don Harkey, Brett Marble, Daryle Perry, Kerry Winders and Traleia Wing.

Ballots will be due back the weekend of the Vernon rodeos - May 3rd and 4th.  There will be a ballot box out at Plainview and Vernon for returning your ballots or you may mail them in to the Tri-State office no later than May 2nd. 

UPDATED 2008 Spring Rotations

We have several new members this semester who were not at Amarillo, and therefore, are not listed in the rotations.  So I've updated this list to include them.  This IS NOT the competition order for this weekend and will not show Region 1 entries.  It is only to show you AM or PM.  I did not update the team roping partners.

GIRLS                  BOYS              

If you are in the AM at Childress, you will also be in the AM at the Saturday rodeo at Vernon and Happy.  You will be in the PM at Plainview and the Sunday rodeo at Vernon.

If you are in the PM at Childress, you will also be in the PM at the Saturday rodeo at Vernon and Happy.  You will be in the AM at Plainview and the Sunday rodeo at Vernon.

posted 4.6.08

Many thanks to the Hereford club for hosting our rodeo on Saturday.  They are always so organized and have all the areas covered.  But for some reason, they never assign anyone to be in charge of keeping the wind under control.  I'll remind Kirk to put that on his labor list for next year.  Even with the wind, you guys did a great job!

After a little prodding, we ended up having a pretty decent 50/50 jackpot.  Some of our seniors are very shy so if you see one of them at the next rodeo with their envelope and 50/50 tickets, help them out a little and offer to buy yours before they ask.  Hereford's total came to $349.  The winning ticket went unclaimed at the rodeo.  It is a red ticket #667767.  The winner has until the start of the PM performance at Childress to claim their prize, otherwise all of the money will be added to the next drawing.

I have posted official scores and results for yesterday.  I will try to get points up tonight also.  If not, they will be there no later than tomorrow.  I decided to take a "quick" trip to Spur today to deliver a pony to my niece so it cut into my workday.  But family ranks higher than work, so that's okay.  Payoff checks will be mailed in the morning and entry fees will be deposited then, also.

I'm starting to get more scholarship applications in.  Make sure you are eligible for consideration by taking your turn selling 50/50 tickets.  Application deadline is April 15th.  You can still sell tickets at the remaining spring rodeos for your eligibility.

posted 4.4.08

This past week I have heard from several people asking "is 'this' is still on the website?" or "I can't find 'it' on the website."  I know the headings at the top of the pages have gotten pretty full but I assure you that 95% of what you are looking for is here.  I will try to post a synopsis of each page on the Home page soon to help you along.  For now though, please take a look at the FAQs page.  You will find membership and entry forms, motel listings, arena directions and stall information. 

I updated the Plainview motel listing to hi-lite the Comfort Suites as the host motel for the weekend.  They have discounted their price by about $20 a night.  They are booked for Friday night but still have around 10 rooms for Saturday if you are staying over for the Wrangler rodeos.  Apparently there is some kind of sports tournament in town and rooms will be limited.  So make your reservations ASAP.

See you tomorrow,

posted 4.3.08

Wrangler members:  It took a while to find the problem, but "the man behind the curtain" (that's from the Wizard of Oz in case you aren't old enough to follow my humor) has updated my computer so that your rodeo results will show on the Texas Wrangler Junior High Division website.  There is a link on the results page to take you to that site.

Go ahead and mark your calendars for a 9am start time at Plainview for your double rodeo on April 20th.  We started at 9am last fall at Wellington and that seemed to work well.  We will be having an awards presentation following the afternoon rodeo, so an earlier start time will still allow everyone a chance to get home at a decent hour.

Don't forget to have your finals entry forms notarized when you come to Plainview.  We will fill out the final standings and total for your fees that day.  There will also be a representative from Pinpoint Monograms at Plainview in case you want to order any logo merchandise.  I will post a link to their order form on the WD News page if you want to get an idea on prices. 

posted 4.2.08

RANGE RIDERS RODEO QUEEN &  PRINCESS CONTEST

Contest is open to girls ages 7 to 13 for the Princess category and ages 14 to 18 for the Queen category.  Judging will take place on July 3rd in conjunction with the Range Riders Rodeo.  For more information, contact Dianne Nichols at 806-570-4045 or 488-2303. 

 

Good Luck!

posted 4.1.08

Well, I am back in the office getting ready for this weekend's rodeo in Hereford.  I've been debating about whether or not to post updated entries for each rodeo but I finally decided not to.  I'm afraid you would get used to looking them up and then I might get too busy later in the semester and not get them done.  Maybe next year I can try it but for now you can still see your original rotations at the bottom of this page in the post from 3.4.08.  It tells you what your rotation will be for the entire semester based on where you were at the Amarillo rodeo.

I have a feeling that time is about to fly by us in the next few months.  There are so many activities that take place in the springtime that you definitely don't want to get behind.  For instance, today was the deadline for seniors to turn in their scholarship applications for THSRA.  You still have until April 15th for the Tri-State Memorial Scholarship applications.  Those may be turned in to me this weekend at Hereford or next weekend at Childress.  If you choose to mail it, make sure it arrives no later than April 15th.

One of the benefits of starting the spring season so late is that it allows more new members to join and still be able to attend the last six rodeos of the year.  We have several new members this semester, so if you see a face you don't recognize, introduce yourself and make them feel welcome.

Region 1 members:  I will have your information packets for the State Finals available to pick up this weekend.  If you are in the Top 15 in your event, then you will have a packet.  These will be due back at the Plainview rodeo on April 19th.  Pinpoint Monograms will have a representative on hand at Plainview to take any orders you may have for THSRA logo merchandise. 

Don't forget about the general membership meeting at Hereford during the 30-minute break.  If you are scheduled for the PM performance, please make plans to arrive early so you can attend this meeting.